Traction device



June 14, 1960 w. c. DEMAREST ETAL 2,940,441

TRACTION DEVICE dam 1A MW 4 Sheets$heet 1 INVENb 6.

MW 1 A ORNEY Filed Sept. 21, 1956 n 14, 1 w. c. DEMAREST ETAL 2,940,441

TRACTION DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 21, 1956 Cm ENTOR ixzromqn June 14, 1960 w. c. DEMAREST ETAL 2,940,441

TRACTION DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 21, 1956 n 0 X 3 7 m 5 2 m 2 M WW w 9 u. 6 8 m. 4 m mh 3.7 0 :1; 6 4 w 2 w 7 r w m INVENTORS Mmtfiw ATTORNEY June 14, 1960 w. c. DEMAREST ETAI. 2,940,441

TRACTION DEVICE Filed Sept. 21, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 lllll l INVENTORS 7f" CQmm f 41% ORNEY United States Patent TRACTION DEVICE William C. Demarest, White Plains, and Edward Malinstrom, Greenhurgh, N.Y., assignors to G. & D. Surgical & Drug Co., Inc., White Plains, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Sept. 21, 1956, Ser. No. 611,253

8 Claims. (Cl. 128-75) This invention relates to a physio-therapy apparatus, and more particularly to a traction apparatus for effecting physio-therapeutic treatment, and still more specifically to an apparatus for applying intermittent traction to alleviate intervertebral tension.

It is known that physio-therapeutic benefits may be secured by intermittent traction, either in cervical, lumbar or limb afllictions. Apparatus for applying traction under the trained supervision of orthopedists, neurologists and physio-therapists as heretofore known to be supplied at clinics or surgeons oflices has made such apparatus expensive to the patient due to the cumbersome nature of the apparatus, and has, in a large measure, limited the extent and fiequency of treatment which may be found desirable. V

In accordance with the present invention, it is contemplated as an object thereof to provide apparatus for applying traction adaptable for cervical, lumbar, or limb treatment which is simple in'operation, compact in construction and which may lac-transported for installation in the home of the patient, with universal adaptation for treatment of the patient in the seated or recumbent position.

Thus, in accordance with this invention, a readily portableapparatus is provided, adaptable, to meet the requirements of treatment in providing constant or intermittent traction for the physio-therapeutic treatment of ailments of the cervical, lumbar or limb regions, where the desired frequency of treatment may be assured, with great convenience to the patient while retaining the accepted technique in the application of these desirable therapeutic forces, thereby avoiding the necessity for hospitalizing the patient, or frequent clinical visits to obtain such treatment.

In accordance with this invention, it is an object thereof to provide a combination of a traction device which is portable, with components comprising motorized, intermittent resilient traction developing means, and a guiding support or standard with which the motorized means exercises its traction force, and a coupling means to direct the traction influence to the patient, all formed of component elements which are compact, yet efficient in operation and adaptable for installation to meet the requirements of treatment for a variety of conditions of support of the patient to be treated, so that a patient to be treated may be in the seated or recumbent position employing the same apparatus, thus providing adaptability to a wide variety of required treatments in the use of the beneficial traction component.

Still more particularly it is an object of this invention to provide a readily portable, low cost assembly for providing traction in the physio-therapeutic treatment of patients requiring this force, including apparatus permitting installation thereof in the home of the patient or in a variety of locations, at the clinic or hospital and when not in use may be stored compactly.

To attain these objects and such further objects'as Patented June 14, 1960 ICC Figure 2 is a perspective view exposing the contentsof the carriers shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating the apparatus set up for the provision of cervical traction, with the patient in the seated position;

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the apparatus for lumbar traction of a recumbent patient;

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the apparatus set up for cervical traction of a recumbent patient;

Figure 6 is a magnified plan view of the motorized unit and support;

Figure 7 is a further magnified section taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a plan view of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a magnified plan view taken in the direction of lines 9-9 of Figure 7.

Making reference to the drawings, in carrying out an object of this invention by readily portable carriers, there is illustrated in Figure 1 a base carrier 10 and a powerized unitcarrier 11, details whereof will appear as this description proceeds. The carriers 10 and 11 are fitted with known transporting handles whereby the units may be manually handled and carried conveniently.

Referringnow to Figure 2, the carrier '10 consists of a base 12 of rectilinear outline, having a bottom wall 13, to which are rigidly affixed side walls 14, 14 and end walls -15 and 16. The open end of the base 12 has a cover member 17 forming a standard, as will appear as this description proceeds, joined to the end wall 16 by the hinge 18. Props 19, 19 may be angularly extended rigidly to dispose the cover member 17 in relation to the base 12. Removable coupling, such as 20, may be pro.- vided to opposite ends of the props 19, in the form of wing nuts and bolts, in a manner which will readily be understood, for removably coupling the props '19 at their respective ends to the base 12 and standard 17 respectively. .7

Mounted on the bottom wall 13 are parallel guide tracks 21, running normal to the end wall 16 in the direction of the end wall 15. The tracks are arranged to receive the carrier 11. The carrier 11 has its bottom wall 22 formed with castors or gliders 23, spaced apart to tiuigage the guide tracks 21, slidably to support the carrier In this position slidable adjustability of the powerized carrier unit 11 may be eifected, and for this purpose the powerized end wall 24 of the powerized carrier unit is formed with a channel 25, having an open-ended slot 26, to which may be coupled the feed screw means 27, one end 28 of which is headed to engage the channel, the other end 29 of which is ,formed with a crank 30.

Along the length of the feed screw means 27 there is mounted a bar 31 which is screw threaded to receive the threaded bar 27, adjacent one end thereof. The bar 31 may slidably be mounted in a channel 32 affixed to the interior face of the end wall 15. It will be evident that rotation of the crank 30 may serve to slide the motorized unit case 11 to and from the end wall 16.

Referring now to Figures 6 to 9, it will be noted that mounted within the motorized carrier case 11 is a motor 33, whose drive shaft 34carries a pulley 35. Rotation from the pulley 35 is transmitted to the speed changing assembly 36 which comprises a driven pulley 37 to receive the drive belt 38. The driven pulley 37 has mounted on the shaft 39a slidable sheave 40 which, iii relation to the corresponding face on the driven pulley 3 7, may adjustably receive the belt 41. A control handle 42 is pivoted at 43, at one end thereof, and extends through the closure 44 through a slot 45, to provide a manual control 46. Thecontr'ol handle 42,1at' its intermediate portion, is guided in a quadrant slot47, to limit widen or narrow the slot for receiving the belt 41. The

' its niovernent. An extension finger 48, coupled with the control handle 42, is arranged to cam the 'sheavefto belt 41 is coupledwith the pulley .49 of amagnitude to obtain a speed reduction. 'Furtherjsp'eed reduction is achieved by the control handle 42, it being understood that more distantly spacing the sheave 40 from the driven pulley 37 will serve to reduce the rotation of the driven pulley 49, whereas a closer coupling will increase the speed'of rotation.

The pulley 49 is mounted on a shaft: 50, extending into the transmission casing 51 for operating the power The shaft -2 carries a crank arm 53, The crank pin 54 has takeoff shaft 52. terminating in a crank pin 54. I anchored to it one end 55 of a cable 56. The cable 56 is guided over the guide pulley 57 anchored to the allelism with the closure'44.

- wall 24 to direct the terminal end 58 substantiallyin par will be evident by inspecting the spring scale reading end of the cable 90 accessible to the patient. The actua- 'tion' of the motor cyclically applies tension to the cable '56 and, through it, transmits the tension to the traction link 68 leading to the patient. The number of cycles per unit of time may be varied by the actuation of the The-terminal end 58 of the cable is connected to a a 'pin 59 which extends through the ear 60 of a; spring balance scale 61. The free end 620i the pin 59 isco'nnected to' the tension. spring 63, affixed at its opposite end to the anchoring hook- 64 from the: end wall 65,-

control lever 42, to accelerate or retard the number of traction impulses as the orthopedist may find desirable. During each impulse of traction, the spring scale needle will show the low and the high so that the kind of tension as well as the periodicity of the impulses may be determined. Operation under these conditions permits the prescription of the cyclical treatment as" well as the tension, and likewise permits, during such treatment, of an adjustment'to be made to vary the tension from the minimum, the eccentricity of the crank pin 54 determining the maximum pull which will be effected, as it will be readily understood that the displacement has a relationship to the'tension which is applied. Once thereby maintaining the cable 56 under constant tension.

The spring scale 61 is guided on spaced tracks 66 amazed to walls 24 and 65. The scale 61 has its movable ear 67 hooked to the traction link 68.

Reference will now be made to "an installation for treatment of a patient in the "seated position for a cervical applied traction.

' In Figure 3 the cover member 17 forming thestand -ard is rigidly propped to the vertical position withpthe poweriz ed carrier unit 11 positioned as previously de-r scribed. There'upon there is attached-Ste" the traction 'link'68 a cableor other flexible 69 which is guided over the guide pulley 70 to oneend 71 of a rocker arm '72, pivoted at-an intennedia'te point 73 to the extensible irarne 74 which. comprises an {inverted tubular frame having spaced branches 75, 75, and joined by the intermediate sections 76 upon which the pivot 73'is'formed.

The pivot 73. comprises spaced tongues adapted to receive a pin 77, which; is held captive for ready use on a chain 78. A conforming aperture in the rocker bar 72 may hold the rocker bar tiltably on the intermediate sections 76 of the trainer Eyes 'o'r like guides 79 may adjustably guide the frame" 74 initially to 'hold the device is in operation, the patient may be left unattended and may discontinue the treatment by operation of the remote control switch for shutting off the power to V the motor.

'The mobility of the motorized unit 11 to the carrier base 10 provides an adaptability for installation in a amount of space,'without sacrificing the requirement for adjustment. At the same time the installation makes for a highly compact assembly so that it may be transported from one location/to the other, and is even suitable for transportation by home servicing visiting 'nurs'e's.- I V i a It will be observed that By the use or; the has as a carnor to support the motorized unit during use, that a novel 1 and convenient assembly is provided without necessitatit'in the retracted osition-tor eoin'pa'ct packa ing, as

shown in Figure 2, or to elevate it; as shown in Figure 3. Wing nut control 80 sleeved on the frame serve as abutments or stops to hold the frame 74in predetermined position, either elevated 0r retracted.

The rocker arm 72, at its free end 81, is provided with a yoke 82 having hooked ends its from which ends a an occipital harness 84 is supported foi'receiving the head, of the patient to be treated. V a

' The standard 17, at its exterior face, is provided with a bracket 85. A' seat 86 has one edge thereof formed with a channel 87 for complemental attachment to the bracket 85. Pivotal legs 88 adjacent the front of the seat and suitably braced by foldable struts, convert the seat 86 and the standard 17 into a seat for the patient, as shown. r, V a

With the installation as described, the 'pow'erized unit '11. is adjustable by-sliding along the carrier base 10 V and this is effected by rotating the feed screw 27 to apply, the minimum tension to the link-ingcable 69 and,'-i'n turn,

to the yoke 82, affixed to the patient, the powerized unit being set so that the traction link 68is in the fully extended position at this .point at the time when initial adjustments are made. The minimum point of traction ing heavy and cumbersome units or the anchoring of the unit into aposition wherethe traction device is to be operated, as the motorized unit'which is guided'o'n the tracks formed in the carrier provides adequate anchoring resistance to the motivating force against the patient.

By the relationship of the motorized unit 11 to the carrier and the standard 17, an adequate balance is farnished to provide portability without extraneous anchoring attachments'to exert traction action on the patient as the positioh of the assembled elements 10 and 11 and their location are suflicient to provide the necessary relative immobility and versatility to the tractile forces in a variety of desired positions of the patient.

7 These features, as briefly indicated, will be appreciated by reference to Figures4 and 5' wherein the identical assembly may be used for intermittent lumbar traction or intermittent cervical traction of a patient in the recumbent position.

Referring now to Figure 4, the assembly as set up in Figure 3 has removed therefromtheframe '74by'sliding the same from the ring guides. V The standard 17 is also formed with a medially positioned longitudinal'slot 91, along which a guide pulley 92, supported on a bracket, may be adjustably positioned in accordance with the height or position of the patient. to the motorized traction unit is guided over the pulley 92, extending through the slot 91 in the direction of the patient on the supporting bed B; In the illustration, the cable extends to a lumbar harness 94, while thep'ati'ent is in therecumbent position. The electrical system cable 90 for manipulating the control switch may be likewise ex tended over the bed within grasp of the patient, for controlling the motorized traction unit.

The cable 69 leading a asaoaar Similarly, as shown in Figure 5, the traction cable 69 may have aflixed thereto a cervical harness of the character shown in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 3, while the patient is in the recumbent position, with the head extended adjacent the traction installation.

Likewise, while the device has been shown for intermittent lumbar traction, for cervical traction in the recumbent or seated position, the device may be used for applying traction to the limbs of a patient, if such may be found desirable, as will be readily understood. 'Ankle, shoulder and arm traction, sacral traction, as well as various other forms of traction may be suitably applied. Thetraction forces which are applicable in no way require costly installation to correlate the supporting expedient, whether it be a chair or a bed, eiiiciently to provide the traction force.

It will also be observed that by the relative adjustability of the motorized unit 11 to the guide 10, a wide variety of traction forces may be exerted, depending upon that portion of the body which must be treated, it being understood that each portion of the body may require or be subjected to various traction forces. These forces may be determined directly as the slack in the cable is taken up between the patient and the traction link 68 by the relative movement of the motorized unit 11 on the carrier during adjustment of the screw member 27.

Having thus described the invention and illustrated its use, what is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A physio-therapeutic apparatus for supplying controlled traction to a harness coupled to a portion of a body of a patient to be treated for tensioning the portion and body relatively to each other comprising a carrier casing base member having substantially horizontal guiding means on its bottom Wall, a standard connected with said base member vertically extendable therefrom, an assembly comprising intermittent traction developing means, said assembly being slidably mounted on said guiding means on said bottom Wall, tensional linking means extending from said traction developing means to said standard, said linking means being arranged to be connected to said harness for applying traction to said patient, said traction developing means being variably positionable on said guiding means for varying the extent of said tension, means engaging a side Wall for moving said guiding means and traction means relatively to each other, thereby to vary the tension of said traction on said harness.

2. A physio-therapeutic apparatus for applying controlled traction to a harness coupled to a portion of a body of a patient to be treated for tensioning the portion and body relatively to each other comprising a base member comprising a carrier case having upstanding side Walls and having substantially horizontal guiding means on a bottom wall, a standard forming a closure for said case connected therewith, vertically extendable therefrom, prop means for rigidly holding said standard relatively to said case, an assembly comprising intermittent traction developing means slidably mounted on said guiding means within said case, spring loaded tensional linking means extending from said traction developing means to said standard, said linking means being arranged to be connected to said harness for applying traction to said patient, said traction developing means being variably positionable on said guiding means for varying the extent of said tension, means on a side wall of said case for moving said guiding means and traction means relatively to eachother, thereby to vary the tension of said traction on said harness.

3. A physio-therapeutic apparatus for applying controlled traction to a harness coupled to a portion of a body of a patient to be treated for tensioning the portion and body relatively to each other comprising a base member comprising a carrier case having upstanding side walls and having substantially horizontal guiding means on a bottom wall, a standard forming a closure for said case 6 in extending over the side walls connected therewith, vertically extendable therefrom, prop means extending from said standard to said case for rigidly holding said standard relatively to said case, an assembly comprising intermittent traction developing means slidably mounted on said guiding means, spring loaded tensional linking means extending from said assembly of traction develop ing means to said standard, said linking means being arranged to be connected to said harness for applying traction to said patient, said assembly of traction developing means being variably positionable on said guiding means for varying the extent of said tension, means engaging said assembly and case for moving said guiding means and traction means relatively'to each other, thereby to vary the tension of said traction on said harness and variable guiding means for said linking means on said standard. a

4. A physio-therapeutic apparatus for supplying controlled traction to a harness coupled to a portion of a body of a patient to be treated for tensioning the portion and body relatively to each other comprising a base member comprising a case with upstanding side walls, a bottom and having substantially horizontal guiding means on said bottom, a standard connected therewith vertically extendable therefrom, an assembly comprising an intermittent traction developing means slidably mounted on said guiding means, tensional linking means comprising a flexible cable extending from said traction developing means to said standard, said linking means being arranged to be connected to said harness for applying traction to said patient, said traction developing means being variably positionable on said guiding means for varying the extent of said tension, and manually adjustable means extending 'from a side Wall of said case providing means for moving said guiding means and traction means relatively to each other, thereby to vary the tension of said traction on said harness.

5. A device in accordance with claim'4 wherein said manual means extend from a side Wall in opposed position to said standard-whereby when tension is increased as said traction developing means is moved away from said standard, such movement operating to increase resistance to tipping 'as the traction is increased.

6. A physio-therapeutic apparatus for supplying controlled traction to a harness coupled to a portion of a body of a patient to be treated for tensioning the portion and body relatively to each other comprising a base member comprising a case \m'th upstanding side walls and a bottom and having substantially horizontal guiding means on said bottom, a standard connected therewith vertically extendable therefrom, an assembly unit comprising an intermittent traction developing means slidably mounted on said guiding means, tensional linking means comprising a flexible cable extending from said traction developing means to said standard, said linking means being arranged to be connected to said harness for applying traction to said patient, and including guiding means for said cable to extend tension on said harness, said traction developing means being variably positionable on said guiding means for varying the extent of said tension, means coupled to said case side walls and assembling for moving said last mentioned guiding means and traction means relatively to each other, thereby to vary the tension of said traction on said harness.

7. A device in accordance with claim 6 wherein said guiding means to extend tension vertically comprise a rocker arm, with a fulcrum, said fulcrum rigidly aflixed to said standard and swingably supporting said rocker arm in the vertical plane.

8. A portable physio-therapy apparatus for applying intermittent traction to a harness coupled to a portion of the body of a patient comprising a base member consisting of a portable carrier case including side walls and a bottom, a rigid standard afiixed to said base member on a side wan, a; motorized, intermittent traction developing assembly mounted on and adjustable relatively to'said base on 'said'bottorn walLharness cable linking means actuated by said traction developing means and means on said standard variably to guide said cable-linking means tofs'aid harness, means on saidgbase extended from a side 4 wall: for adjustably positioning. said assembly toward ;an'd awayfirom'said standard, said assembly in its adjustment on saidbase variably applying tension to sfaid'cable and providing single means for providing traction in the verticallyor horizontally extended position'ofsaid cable linking'means and resilient spring means interposed between said linking means and harness having indicia means for said tension.

- Refe rencesCited in the fileo f this patent 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS V Daughtry ,Sept. 28, 

